AT A HISTORIC Mining in Motion Summit held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, delivered a rousing address, laying out an aggressive roadmap to combat illegal gold trade, modernize artisanal mining and boost Ghana’s economic fortunes through value-added exports and robust forex accumulation.
The summit, attended by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and a wide array of government officials, diplomats and industry players, underscored the nation’s renewed ambition to lead Africa not just in gold production – but in gold governance and beneficiation.
The CEO, in applauding the role of the Ashanti Green Initiative and Nana Kwaku Duah, thanked President John Dramani Mahama for the establishment of GoldBod – an institution designed to correct the long-standing dysfunction in Ghana’s gold marketing framework.
“No more uncontrolled smuggling. The era of porous regulation is over,” the CEO declared. GoldBod, as the statutory body now replacing the PMMC, holds exclusive rights over ASM gold exports and has significantly tightened operational controls.
The statistics speak volumes:
● 41.5 tonnes of ASM gold exported between January and May 2025
● $4 billion USD in export value from ASM gold in four months
● Record monthly exports of 11 tonnes in May 2025 alone
The CEO linked these results to strengthened regulatory infrastructure and partnerships with the Bank of Ghana, noting that improved forex inflows have stabilized the local currency and boosted economic confidence.
GoldBod’s forward-facing strategy includes:
● Licensing schemes for every player in the gold trade value chain
● AML/CFT compliance with oversight from the Financial Intelligence Center
● Encouragement of foreign investment in downstream gold industries, while restricting foreign participation in direct ASM gold buying
● The launch of a digital gold traceability system by end-2025
● Formal training for ASM operators to begin September 2025
● GoldBod will soon move from dore to bullion exports, and will support local refineries aiming for LBMA certification, with an end goal of full value addition and job creation.
The CEO further announced:
● The formation of a special anti-smuggling taskforce, supported by National Security
● Investment in community infrastructure—schools, healthcare, water systems—funded through trading surpluses
● Establishment of a world-class assay lab by 2026 to ensure purity and international compliance
● Partnership opportunities for private and foreign entities within GoldBod’s cooperative and value chain programs
“The GoldBod is flying high but we’re just beginning,” the CEO affirmed. “We will make sure Ghana’s gold enriches Ghanaians, not criminals. Every gram will be tracked, every cedi accounted for and every community uplifted.”
In a compelling close, he called on the global gold ecosystem – from LBMA and WGC to ethical investors and refiners – to join hands with Ghana.
“Together, we can reshape Africa’s mining narrative – from exploitation to empowerment, from extraction to transformation.”
Source: Nationaltymes.com
